New York Times on Publishing Government Leaks: ‘That’s Our Job’

The New York Times has recently come under fire by members of Congress for publishing stories that they felt compromised national security. As Politico notes, when the Times ran stories on President Obama’s “kill list” and backing of cyber attacks, John Kerry said “there is a serious question whether or not [the Times articles] served our interest and whether the public had to know.” Others Senators who called out the Times include John McCain, Peter King and Lindsay Graham. The Times’ Dean Baquet was quick to defend the paper.

“Both the rise and use of drones, and the increased use of cyberwarfare, are the kinds of issues that we have a public service mission to surface so they can be part of a national debate,” Baquet, the paper’s managing editor, told The Huffington Post. “That’s our job.”

Baquet went on to nail the Times’ critics for, well, for doing what politicians do best. “I wonder if only Washington is having the debate about [the stories’] timing, as opposed to what they actually said,” he pondered.

Subscribe to Adweek

Featured Courses

Search MarketingOptimize your website through SEO, social media, and digital outreachLearn more >Facebook MarketingGet smart about how to use Facebook for businessLearn more >Copywriting for Social MediaMaximize your clicks, shares, retweets, and pinLearn more >Skills in 60: How to Name Your Brand or ProductDevelop a unique name for any brand, product, or businessLearn more >See more Courses >